Morning Buzz: Which Packers made the grade?
Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers and the NFL from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a strong cup of coffee and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.
Bob McGinn continues his grading series by giving out individual grades on the defensive side of the ball. As one might imagine on that side of the ball, there were no A's handed out.
Here’s Bob’s grade for Mike Daniels:
Played almost the exact number of snaps (802) as he did last year (807) but wasn’t as dominant. His tackles per snap declined from one every 11.4 snaps to one every 14.1 while his pressure total of 31 ½ stayed almost exactly the same. Each game, there were five or six plays in which Daniels would make short work of the blocker across from him and either tackle the ball carrier or threaten the passer. If Daniels didn’t win with his first move, he was less successful countering to gain an edge or generate a walk-back to the passer. His intensity level never wanes, and he usually wins the leverage battle. At times, he does get covered up or washed. Daniels needs to get healthy and get comfortable playing alongside Clark from the first day of off-season work. Grade: B.
Martin Rogers of USA Today Sports takes a look at former Packers halfback and punter Donnie Anderson and how he spearheaded the movement toward kicking for hang time rather than distance.
After being drafted by the Packers, Anderson soon was enlisted by legendary coach Vince Lombardi to try what was then a revolutionary idea.
Anderson made his first punts against the Chicago Bears, who had future Hall of Famer Gale Sayers as a returner. Anderson sent three left-footed kicks soaring into the sky, two of which Sayers dropped, setting up a Green Bay touchdown and a field goal. On the third, Sayers, probably wisely, called for a fair catch.
And thus the concept of hang time in professional football was born: the idea that the paucity of the return, rather than the length of the initial kick, is of greater importance.
Last night, we had our season-ending Clubhouse Live broadcast.
Elsewhere, James Jones spoke with NFL Network about winning the Super Bowl:
Zach over at Cheesehead TV takes a look at Aaron Rodgers’ incredible stretch of play:
Rodgers and several other Packers have been named to ESPN’s All-NFC North team:
Packers great Don Hutson was born on this date in 1913.
It seems as though the Vikings beat is noticing our coverage of the Packers:
Bill Huber is doing a positional review via podcast.
Rob Demovsky takes a look at Jordy Nelson’s incredible season:
Meanwhile, the Super Bowl and its attendant activities keep rolling along down in Houston. Last night was Opening Night, the new version of what Media Day used to be.
Tom Brady had a bit of an emotional moment talking about his father
Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan legit lost the team’s game plan for close to 30 minutes.
Speaking of game plans, if you’re interested in actual X’s & O’s conversations about the Super Bowl, the MMQB has a podcast just for you: